Wednesday’s tragedy in Parkland, Fla., has been particularly emotional for Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, as he spent two years at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, site of the mass shooting that left 17 people dead and 14 wounded.
“They always say it [hits] close to home, but when it’s actually home it’s pretty tough to see,” Gostisbehere told reporters in a video posted on NHL.com. “I haven’t really processed it yet. I still can’t believe it. I was just in that school. I was only in there for two years, but I felt safe at that school every day I was there. Just to see something like that happen and to those kids and those teachers and whatnot, it sucks.”
Gostisbehere, now 24, grew up about 10 minutes from the school and transferred for his junior year to a prep school in Connecticut. A friend texted him Wednesday to tell him about the tragedy, according to NBC Sports.
Gostisbehere said he knew Aaron Feis, the football coach who died a hero after being shot as he tried to protect students from the gunfire.
Nikolas Cruz, 19, has been identified as the shooter and charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
